What is PCOS and Do I have it?
With the enormous amount of information out there about PCOS, it can feel extremely overwhelming to try and make sense out of any of it. You may be wondering why someone with PCOS may preach one diet or exercise, while another person feels a completely different diet works, or someone may say you only need to exercise to control your PCOS symptoms. So who is telling the truth? Why are some people’s symptoms the same as yours while their remedies don’t work for you? Well, we’re here to help you weed through all that information and break down PCOS.
WHAT IS PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common health problem caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. While originally believed to have cysts that develop on the ovaries, one can have PCOS without cysts. PCOS usually is first noticed when someone first goes through puberty or is when trying to have children. There is no definite cause for PCOS.
Symptoms often include (but are not limited to):
Irregular menstrual cycle. Women with PCOS may miss periods or have fewer periods (fewer than eight in a year). Or, their periods may come every 21 days or more often. Some women with PCOS stop having menstrual periods.
Too much hair on the face, chin, or parts of the body where men usually have hair. This is called "hirsutism." Hirsutism affects up to 70% of women with PCOS.3
Acne on the face, chest, and upper back
Thinning hair or hair loss on the scalp; male-pattern baldness
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
Darkening of skin, particularly along neck creases, in the groin, and underneath breasts
Skin tags, which are small excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
Common Complications of PCOS:
Infertility
Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure
Miscarriage or premature birth
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis — a severe liver inflammation caused by fat accumulation in the liver
Metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that significantly increase your risk of cardiovascular disease
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
Sleep apnea
Depression, anxiety and eating disorders
Abnormal uterine bleeding
Cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer)
I THINK I HAVE PCOS, NOW WHAT?
Find a doctor
If you’re having any of the above symptoms or worry you have PCOS, the only way to get it diagnosed is through a doctor. However, finding a doctor can be difficult. It is important to remember that a PCOS diagnosis is an exclusionary diagnosis. This mean that a doctor HAS to rule out all other diagnoses to diagnosis you with PCOS. This can take time, be patient.
Another thing to note while looking for a doctor is to look for a doctor that has a Health at Every Size approach. This means that your size, body shape, and/or weight don’t indicate your health. This is so vitally important with a PCOS because weight gain can be a SIDE EFFECT, not the cause or something to focus on for treatment.
Advocate for yourself!
You have the right to feel comfortable and heard when going through the journey of a PCOS diagnosis and treatment plan. Don’t be afraid to try several different doctors until you find the one that you best relate and work well with. While searching, one question to ask while searching for the right doctor is “what advice would you give for PCOS symptom management for someone with a smaller body?” A doctor’s advice should be the same!
Get a dietitian on your team!
While picking out a special diet or eliminating certain food groups may work for some people, it is not the ideal way to go about managing symptoms. Some foods may trigger your PCOS symptoms, but it is all about finding balance. You may have to cut one food group for a week or two, then slowly bring it back in. As you do this, you can really get a feel of what you food tolerance level is with certain food groups without cutting them out altogether.
Ready to balance PCOS and nutrition, work with a dietitian that specializes in PCOS here.